The history of the regiment begins in 1683 when young Tsar Peter I started to collect his contemporaries for military games in the village of Preobrazhenskoje (Transfiguration). Initially, there were but 50 boys - children of Russian aristocracy. Since 1687 the unit is called Preobrazhensky Soldier regiment. In 1700 was officially treated as Preobrazhensky Life Guard Regiment.

Since the official date of its raising (June 2, 1683) Regiment or its separate battalions participated in military campaigns of Russia: 1695 - 1696 (against Ottoman Empire); 1700 - 1720 (against Sweden); 1722 (against Persia); 1737 - 1739 (against Ottoman Empire); 1742 (against Sweden); 1789 - 1790 (against Sweden); 1805 (against France); 1807 (against France); 1808 - 1809 (against Sweden); 1812 - 1814 (against France); 1828 (against Ottoman Empire); 1831 (in Poland); 1863 (in Poland); 1877 - 1878 (against Ottoman Empire); 1914 -1918 (WWI, Eastern Front). Preobrazhensky Life Guard Regiment was officially disbanded in May 20, 1918; separate units of the Regiment participated in Civil War (1918 - 1920).